Ian Wright ‘Very Surprised’ by Mikel Arteta’s Tactics in Arsenal’s Defeat to PSG

Ian Wright Questions Arteta’s Strategy in Arsenal’s Champions League Defeat.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright react on Arteta’s tactics, expressed his surprise at Mikel Arteta’s approach during the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. The match, played at the Emirates Stadium, saw Ousmane Dembélé score in the 4th minute, giving PSG a crucial advantage heading into the second leg.

Wright, speaking on his Wrighty’s House podcast, admitted he was taken aback by Arsenal’s subdued start, expecting them to press PSG aggressively rather than sitting back. He noted that PSG dominated the early exchanges, and Arsenal missed an opportunity to capitalize on the home crowd’s energy.

“I don’t want to be negative about the team, but I’m very surprised by the start of the game,” Wright said. “I was expecting PSG to back off, but it was the opposite. We should have been pressing them, but it didn’t happen. That’s the disappointing thing”.

Despite the setback, Wright remains hopeful that Arsenal can overturn the deficit in Paris. He emphasized that PSG will likely try to finish the tie in the first 20 minutes, and Arsenal must be prepared to respond.

With the Premier League title out of reach, the Champions League represents Arsenal’s last chance at silverware this season, making the second leg a crucial test for Arteta’s squad.

How Ian Wright reacted on Arteta’s tactics